Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-16

any good; moneys no use anv where
! told them that if they'd stand bv us
this time we'd lower the taxes nart
year. They just laughed and said ~
h hoM "a sad that ten years ago and it
~ come about, and how us fellers
n. IN once were all robbers and living off
me people. Curse the derned people!
30 now boys, it's come to this: That
losing these, We've only got about seven
hundred votes left to win on and the m
votes over in Jacoville. Them votes
are powerful shaky too, but eff we hold
EN- we can't be beat. How're wc o.
ing to hold 'em? Set Red Scotty free
Don't like that Carruth. You know
Scotty." ~ AAo"
Carruth did know Scotty. He was
the leader of the evil spirits in Jacoyille
the head of an organized band of
thieves who ruled the little town with
lawless power. It was the heaven to
which they fled in all times of danger.
FOR years they had terrorized the
border, but the summer preceding this
campaign Sheriff Carruth determined
to root them out, captured Scotty and
locked him up.
He had lain in his cell for months
awaiting trial, and then, though sew
eral attempts had been made to free
him, he remained q prisoner.
His arrest had been severe blow to
the welfare of Jacoville. Its inhabi-
tants no longer found pleasure in their
pursuits, for their source of inspiration
was gone.
They gave themselves up to regret
over his captivity and to invoking curses
upon the head of his captor.
Their day of vengeance came soon
enough. Carruth's candidacy for re-
election opened the way for them to pay
the debt. Even if Scotty could not be
freed, Carruth should not remain his
guardian. The ballot became their
weapon of attack.
At this juncture Slocum appeared
among them, held several mysterious
conferences, freely distributed liquor,
and when he was gone, Jacoville knew
that in consideration of its seven hun-
dred votes going to Carruth for Sheriff,
Scotty might go free. The exact terms
of the bargain or how it was to be car
ried out no one knew.
And Slocum returning home laid the
plan before Sheriff Carruth.
Ger, said he, ignoring Carruth' s plea
for honor in political work, "ef yer
don't do it, Carruth, yer beaten and so
is the party. Yer derned squeamish.
ness will bust us all up. DO yer sup
pose the boys will help yer after yer
acting like that? There's nothing hard
about it. I don't care how yer let
Scotty go. Fix it up any way yer
choose. Only, if yer don't have him
on the road ter Jacoville the night be-
fore elecshun, we'd all better scoot up
Salt Creek"
Carruth saw the point.
But he could not answer yet. Tell
ing Slocum that he would decide the
next day, he went out into the night
alone.
When once under the stars his self
possession came back and he reasoned
with himself To yield meant no par
ticular harm to him, and much benefit.
TO refuse brought with it not only his
own defeat, but the overthrow of his
party.
He meant to be honest and do we'll
by all men, but now he was calmly
considering q proposition to free a
criminal that the salvation of a political
party might be insured.
He found no relief in considering
either side of the question, 80 sought
his home, and then through the railing
of a woman's tongue, chose his course
of action.
Pretty Dolly Carruth-his wife-was
happy in all things but that feminine
matter of dress. Hitherto her hus-
bands income as Sheriff had given her
ample opportunity to be leader of
fashion. But now his impending de-
feat meant to her q change of circum-
stances, that implied economy and fol-
lowing, reduced position in the
social scale.
She could not bear to think of that
fate. It was heart-rendering and the
more she brooded over the prospect
the more her anger rose against her
husband for not being able to win.
She gave him no sympathy in his eff
forts to check the tide that was running
against him, but rather tainted him for
his weakness.
This particular night when Carruth,
heart-sick, came into the CHEEKY parlor
where she sat, she met him with the re-
proach, "It is o shame, Luke Carruth.
to worry me so. I suppose you know
how badly you are beaten. l thought
that when I married you that you
would always have protected me from
such trouble as this. I wish the cleo
ton was over, and that we were out of
this, and that I was Dead" and here
lacking words she burst into tears.
Carruth stood in the center of the
room where he had stopped when she
began. He grew very pale as she went
on. and when she had finished, turned
and left the house again.
He went direct to Slocum's, routed
that worthy out of bed and told him in
three words that Scotty should go free.
Slocum chuckled, patted him on the
back, swore that he was man to be
proud of, and showed him out of the
door with great respect.
Later, as Carruth was returning to
his own bed, he said to Dolly: aDo not
worry any more. I am elected,
Whereupon she threw her arms around